Page 10 of Belle Amour

“Don’t you dare put this on Mira! I told you Kelly was causing problems!” Bastian exploded, incensed that he would call Mirabelle’s and the other support staff’s legitimate issues with Kelly a temper tantrum. “I fucking told you to handle it!”

“What was I supposed to do? Fire my daughter?”John argued weakly, backing down in the face of Bastian’s anger.

“YES! I told you she was causing resentment and anger in the office, and I told you she's a shit lawyer!” Bastian snapped, frustrated that John was so blind to Kelly’s faults. Although hehad to take some of the blame, he should have quit the moment John confirmed he had hired her.

“She's been winning all her cases!”John blustered, seemingly determined to make a case for his offspring.

“Because Mira did all the fucking work, and I held her goddamn hand!” Bastian roared, unable to hold back anymore. “You chose to ignore what I was telling you, and now we've lost our entire support staff! This is on you and your shit stain of a daughter, NOT Mirabelle or anyone else.”

“We'll just have to hire more.”John's breathing came over the phone loudly, and Bastian wrinkled his nose in disgust. Of course, John was just going to ignore what he said. He always ignored any criticism against Kelly and just pretended no one said anything.

“You think they haven't blacklisted us? They've been planning this together for three weeks!” Bastian growled and listened as John’s fast breathing became a loud, pathetic wheezing mixed with sobs. “John?”

“Oh fuck. Oh my god, I think I'm having a heart attack.”John gasped, and Bastian could hear very real fear in the man’s voice. Concern replaced anger, and while he didn’t think it was a heart attack, he couldn’t, in good conscience, ignore it.

“You're at the office?”

“Yes. What are we gonna do, Bastian? Oh god, my chest hurts.”

“Never mind what we’re going to do.” Bastian rolled his eyes. It was what John was going to do because Bastian was officially done. “I'm calling an ambulance for you; I'll be there shortly.”

Bastian hung up the phone and dialled 911 as he left Mirabelle's condo, making sure it was locked up tight. He gaveJohn’s information and his location to the dispatcher and said he would meet the ambulance there. He tried calling Mirabelle when he got in his car, hoping she had decided to unblock him, but was informed again that the user was not available. Sighing, he called John’s wife and let her know what was going on, reiterating that he was pretty sure John was having a panic attack, not a heart attack, but also that he was not a doctor and couldn’t say for sure. To his surprise, Marie seemed more amused than concerned.

“All the support staff quit because of Kelly?”There was a slight pause, and Bastian heard her cough. When she spoke again, he was pretty sure she was holding back laughter. “Can't say I'm surprised; John has completely ruined that woman. He's been demanding I quit my job and stay home to look after her little terror on two legs. I gave him an ultimatum yesterday, either her or me, and he chose her. Are you available as a lawyer, Bast?”

“I am actually.” Bastian wasn't surprised; Marie would be the third wife that Kelly's attitude and John's indulgence of said attitude had driven away, including her birth mother. “I was going to resign after I got back from my vacation, so there won’t be a conflict of interest either.” He paused then decided fuck it; Mirabelle and Marie were good friends, having bonded over their mutual love of all things ocean and ocean conservation related. They frequently went on trips that took them scuba diving, surfing, or cleaning up beaches, even travelling to Namibia last winter to donate a large sum of money they had raised for an ocean conservation non-profit there. If anyone knew where Mirabelle went, it would be Marie. “Marie, you wouldn't know where Mira would have gone, would you?”

“I might. I also know she's pretty hurt and upset and doesn't want to see you right now.”Marie’s voice became muchmore kind when she spoke, and Bastian knew that while Marie would outwardly support Mirabelle, she also knew about his feelings for Mirabelle and was quietly rooting for him.

“What do I do?” He let some of the panic he was feeling show in his voice and winced at how pathetic he sounded.

“Give her some space, and hope she forgives you.”He could hear Marie’s smile in her voice.“I'll be in touch about the divorce, but let me know if he's having a heart attack, and I'll meet him at the hospital.”She paused.“She will forgive you, Bast; you just might have to grovel a little.”

Bastian nodded dejectedly, then remembered she couldn’t see him. “I can do that, and I’ll keep you updated on John.” They said their goodbyes as Bastian pulled up behind the Ambulance.

He could grovel. He just had to find her first.

Chapter Eight: John & Marie

When he got to the office the EMTs were loading John into the ambulance. They were pretty sure he was having a panic attack but took him in for an EKG just to be sure. He’d gone to the hospital with John and waited with him for the test results. The entire time, John made excuse after excuse for Kelly until Bastian firmly told him that covering for Kelly had completely destroyed his law firm, and he had no one to blame but himself. John had fallen silent and then just muttered. “She’s my daughter.”

“She’s a spoiled, entitled brat with no regard for anyone but herself.” Bastian knew he was being blunt and sharp but hoped it would get through to the man. “You’ve lost three wives and your law firm because you enable her behaviour.”

“She’s my daughter,” John repeated stubbornly, making Bastian roll his eyes. Thankfully, the doctor came in and informed them that John hadn’t had a heart attack and suggested John see a psychiatrist for an anxiety disorder diagnosis. Bastian brought him back to his car and went back to the condo to get started on his plan.

Despite being on vacation, he went into the office on Monday to watch the chaos that would ensue. When he arrived, he found out that three of their four interns had found other placements and the one who was left admitted to putting his name in for a transfer, too. John spent the morning on thephone, trying to convince the support staff to come back. Bastian sat in a chair across from John, listening to each of them turn him down and let him know, in no uncertain terms, that they quit because of Kelly and because John never did anything about her. They all had new jobs and would report the firm to the Better Business Bureau and the New York Department of Labour if he tried to hold back their last paychecks or vacation pay.

John had another breakdown when he finished, and Kelly, attracted by the noise, poked her head in, asking what was wrong. John turned around and lost his temper. Yelling that Kelly had ruined him and as punishment for her attitude, she was demoted to the office personal attendant. Bastian watched in amazement as Kelly, a grown woman of twenty-nine, had a full-on temper tantrum. Stamping her feet, folding her arms tightly across her chest, and scream-crying while telling her father he was being unfair and it wasn’t her fault his support staff couldn’t handle constructive criticism. Finally, she sat in a chair and just outright refused to work, prompting Bastian to get up and walk out. John demanded to know where he was going, and Bastian reminded him he was on vacation as he put on his suit jacket and picked up the paperwork he needed for the meeting he had at one.

“Vacation? Your vacation has been cancelled!” John blustered, standing in the doorway of Bastian’s office and looking at him like he had lost his mind. “We’re in the middle of a crisis here, Bast!”

“First of all, you can’t cancel my vacation; I’m your partner, not your employee, remember?” Bastian closed his briefcase with a small snap and walked around John. “Second of all, I have appointments and meetings I have to attend, so even if I weren’t on vacation, I wouldn’t be here this afternoon.”Leaving John stuttering in his wake, Bastian headed out to his first meeting, which just happened to be with John’s wife. As he drove, he debated calling friends of his in the NYPD and having them put a BOLO on Mirabelle’s car but decided to wait until after he met with Marie.

Not knowing where Mirabelle was and not being able to check in on her was making him extremely anxious. Whenever one of them travelled alone, they told the other one where they were going and where they were staying while they were there, supplied a loose itinerary of their plans and any significant deviations from their plans were sent in a text so if there was no contact for a few days, they could supply as much information as possible to police. It was a mutually agreed upon system that had worked for them since high school to give the other peace of mind, so not knowing and not being able to check in was new and very nerve-wracking for Bastian.

He was meeting with Marie at a café for coffee near where his next appointment was taking place. It was a Mirabelle find and was a light and airy place, with plants and a farm rustic atmosphere. They had several “private” booths that were partially enclosed, great coffee and delicious pastries, and it quickly became a favourite place to bring clients who wanted to meet in a more relaxed atmosphere. Bastian arrived early, set up his laptop and pulled up the paperwork with his new letterhead on it. Marie was about to be the first official client of Adrien & Avery Law. Or at least he hoped what would be Adrien and Avery Law and not just Avery Law.

Marie walked in ten minutes later, and Bastian stood and held up the matcha latte he had gotten for her so she wouldn’t go to order. Grinning, she came over to hug him before sitting down. “You remembered,” she chuckled. How are you doing?”

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